Agreed - most patrons are usually confused by all of those terms (including "databases") and aren't going to care about the differences between them, they just want the content. "Articles" is understandable, but incomplete - "Articles and Other Online Resources" is inclusive and easier to understand, but too long. I usually go with something like "Online Resources" to try to balance the understandability with the intent.
Terran McCanna PINES Program Manager Georgia Public Library Service 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345 404-235-7138 tmcca...@georgialibraries.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Erik Sandall" <esand...@milibrary.org> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 12:34:03 PM Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] talking about "digital collections" vs "electronic resources" Most patrons won't understand the meanings of "digital collections" and "electronic resources". We should use terminology that they would use. My brain is a fog this morning so I don't have any brilliant suggestions at the moment. There is likely to be UX-type research about this in the current literature. "Databases" is probably better, for example. "Articles" is probably even better than "databases". For what it's worth... /Erik -- Erik Sandall, MLIS Electronic Services Librarian & Webmaster Mechanics' Institute 57 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94104 415-393-0111 esand...@milibrary.org On 3/18/2015 9:25 AM, Matt Sherman wrote: > I haven't done any testing on that, but your understanding it the > conventional on in the field. > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 12:22 PM, Derek Merleaux <derek.merle...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> I've always been inclined to use "digital collections" to talk about a >> collection of things that have been digitized or perhaps including born >> digital things that are part of a "collection" in an archival sort of way. >> I prefer the term "electronic resources" for the databases and other >> things... >> -Derek >> >> On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 12:04 PM, Jenn C <jen...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi- >>> >>> We're having a discussion about some web site labeling and navigation. We >>> have a list of "digital collections" which are collections that contain >>> items we've digitized. There was concern expressed that we have something >>> labeled "digital collections" patrons might think that includes databases >>> and other items. >>> >>> Has anyone done user testing around this or have any experience/ideas >> about >>> how to handle the difference between these? >>> >>> Thanks! >>> jenn >>> >>
